Monday, 16 October 2017

The other day at the airport, I met some old friends,
Bishop Ezekiel Guti and his wife, Prophetess Eunor Guti. We had a wonderful
time together as you can see. We even had time to fellowship and pray together
in the airport lounge. They are family to me, and I cannot describe in words
the joy I felt at seeing them.

I left Zimbabwe 17 years ago and had not seen his wife in
all those years. I had occasion to see the Bishop himself a year ago, again at
an airport.

He is now 94, and still ministers and is able to walk
unaided. His mind was as clear as when I first met him 22 years ago.

One morning back then, I got a message that "Bishop
Ezekiel Guti wanted to see me alone." I had never met him even though I
knew who he was! I was not even a member of his assembly which was by far the
largest in my country and now a global ministry spanning almost every country
in the world.

The meeting was in secret and I'm revealing it for the
first time here. He knew all about my plight and the persecution I was enduring
because of my stance. Then he prayed for me and told me not to give up. And
with that I left. Victory was still several years away, but without that moment
I probably would have given up.

Fast forward: Nigeria.

"I would like to meet the founder of your company,
next time he comes to Nigeria. Tell him to come alone because I have a very
important matter I wish to discuss with him."

This was the message conveyed to Zac Wazara, the CEO of
Econet Wireless Nigeria in 2001. The message came from the General Overseer of
the Redeemed Christian of Nigeria, Pastor Enock Adeboye. I had never heard of
him in my life. When I told friends about the request, they were stunned with
awe:

"Wow!" They exclaimed. "Even the President
of Nigeria would go!"

One of the friends to whom I mentioned this was Professor
Yemi Osibanjo, then a Lay Pastor in his church, but also the Attorney General
of Lagos State. He is now Nigeria's Vice President.

We met alone. It will still be many, many years before I'm
ready (if ever) to tell people what he said to me.

My life changed forever!

The last time I met the GO was also in an airport.

He told me he had been following my progress and was
pleased, then added: "Your victory in this and other matters is assured,
you know that, don't you?"

"Yes sir, I know."

"Good."

He is a man of few words outside the pulpit. I thanked him
and went my way.

When you face opposition or persecution like I've had to
endure from time to time, and I expect many of you have, too... Having faith
can be the difference, and I would say (personally), "all the
difference."

Within weeks of my meeting with Bishop Guti, the entire
church in Zimbabwe began to rally around me. Every day I received messages of
encouragement. In September 1998, all the church leaders held a special Thanks
Giving Service. It was one of the largest such gatherings ever. These are the
people who had my back, and that is why I never walked

alone, and never will...

These are just two encounters at an airport. Time and space
do not permit me to talk about meetings with many other great men and women of
faith. I could spend all day on this... They know who they are. via Facebook